Time controlled flush valve



Oct. 22, 1935.

V. E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT EI'AL TIME CONTROLLED FLUSH VALVE Filed Nov. 14, 1932 5 Spams-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 06L 1935- v. E. SCHMIEDEKNECHT ET AL ,0

TIME CONTROLLED FLUSH VALVE 3 sheetsfsheet 2 Filed Nov. 14, 1952 Oct. 22, 1935. v. E. scHMlEDEkNEcHT El AL 2,013,036

TIME CONTROLLED FLUSH VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 14, 1932 INVENTOR S Patented Oct. 22, 1935 PATENT" oFFieE TIME CONTROLLED FEUSIi Victor E. Schmi'edeknecht and Robert-"Cl; Boyd;

Louisville, Ky., assignors to Standard Sanitary Manufacturing Company; acorporat'iowof New Jersey Application November 14, 19 32, Serial No.- 642,512

8 Claims.

Thisinventionrelatesto flush valves for tanks supplying water closets andrthe like, and more particularly to flush valves having a time control for closing.-

At the present time the flush valves for closet tanks are generally of a hollow ball made of rubher orsome other resilient material which, when raised from its seat,.- floats on the water in the tank and allows the water to escape until the level ofthe water in the tank has reached such a level that the float is again drawn onto the valve seat. Theaction of this type of valve" is extremely limited in that it will only partiallyempty the tank. Therefore, large tanks must .be used which not only add to the expense of.

installation but also-to'the size of the installation.

Thishollow ball'type of valve is highly unsatis factory with the new designs of tank and closet bowl in which the bottom of thetank is lower than the top of the bowl because, as heretofore stated, the tank' can be only partially emptied and further, if the bowl should become clogged for any reason, the: bowl will overflow with resultant damage to the floor and the ceiling of the This is due to the peculiar construction of the supply valvenow used in flush tanks which opens as soon asthe level of thewater in the tank drops below a predetermined leve1. Therefore, since the outlet of the tank isbelow the top of the bowl, when the bowl becomes: clogged, there is always a suificient head of water adjoining rooms.

in the tank to prevent the hollow ball from seating and closing the outlet ofthe tank, and the Water being introduced through the inlet valve keeps the head of water in the tank sufficiently high to cause it to flow over the top of the bowl.

One object of this invention is to provide a" flush valve which will remain open until the tankis completely emptied and will close in a pre-- determined length of time after it has been open:-

Another object of this invention is -to provide a flush valve which will seat and close'the flow from the tank in a' predetermined length'oitime regardless of the head of Water in the tank thereby preventing the overflow of a bowl when it becomes clogged,

A further object is to provide a flush valve which is of simple mechanical structure; which has few working parts, and will permit the size of the tank to be reduced.

A still further object is to provide a flush valve which is quiet and smooth in action and positive in its operation.

These and other objectswhich will beherein after made apparent to those skilled in this particular art are-accomplished by means of this invention,-oneembodiment of which is described inthe following specification and illustrated in the accompanying: drawings, wherein: 5'

Fig.- 3 i s a'partial view in section showing our 15 improvedwalve structure inits raised or open position;

' Fig.4 is a view*in section showing: the position of the valve just prior to closing;

Fig. 5 is-a view-in-section taken on lines VV 20 of Figure 1;.

Fig; 6- is a; view in section having a portion thereof broken away to clearly bring out the construction of the 'valve, illustrating a modification of our improved valve structure;

Fig??? is a-viewin=elevationillustrating another modification of our invention; 7

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation having a'portion' thereof broken away, illustrating another modification of or improved-flush valve, and

Fig-l9 is a-view in section illustrating another flushvalve constructed inaccordance with our invention.

In the several figures of the drawings, like numerals-refertolike parts of the structure.

A flush valvefor a storage tank constructedin accordance with this invention, comprises an inverted cylindrical-member whichis mounted in the ta-nk over the outlet opening therein and has afloat slidably: mountedtherein which is spaced abov -and connected toa' dis'c valve adapted to seat over andrnormally close the outlet opening of the 1 tank.-

The valve is operated bya'lifting stem which is iattached-tothe float and extends through a calibrated opening inthe top of" the inverted cylindrical-member. When the float is raised, the valve-is-moved'arway fr'omthe outlet openingt'and is held in spaced relation thereabove by the-head of water in 'the'ianleand by atm )spheric pressure acting on -the float.

In order to delay the closing of the valve so that thetankwill be completely en'iptied; a water reservoir is provided 'on 'the top of the inverted cylindrical member wnich' is in communication 2 t s 2,018,036 I with the interior of the cylindrical member.

When the water being exhausted from the tank falls below the level necessary to buoy up the float and valve,.there is a gravitating tendency in the valve and float to move downwardly and close the outlet opening in the tank. This downward movement of the, float and valve creates a suction within the cylindrical member, which retards the closing of the valve until the water in the reservoir has been drawn into the interior of the cylindrical member through the calibrated opening therein. As soon asv the reservoir is emptied, air enters the inverted cylindrical memher through the openingv adjacent the lifting l5 stem breaking the suction which allows the valve to drop rapidly to its seat.

It is apparent that in this manner and by varying the size of the opening leading from the reservoir to the interior of the inverted cylindrical 'member, the time during which the valve remains open may be readily controlled.

In the drawings, I is a water closet bowl having a flush tank 2 connected thereto, the bottom of which is in a plane lower than the top of the bowl. The bottom of'the tank 2 has an outlet opening 3 therein connected by passage 4 to the bowl I. r

Mounted in the opening 3 is a ringmember 5 having a'flange portion 6 which is secured to the ibottom of the tank 2 in any suitable manner such as with bolts 1. The ring member 5 forms the outlet orifice of the tank and the flow of water therethrough into the passage 3 is controlled by a valve 8 having a washer or seat 9 secured thereto ofsome soft material, such as rubber or leather, which is adapted to seat on pressed cover I3 forming a reservoir I4 on the top thereof, the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained.

Theicylindrical member I2 is mounted on a se- 'ries of lugs l5 projecting upwardly from the flange portion 6 of the ring 5. These lugs I5 also act as guides for the valve 8 and insure its seating on the valve seat 5 after it has been raised to empty the tank. I Y r The valve 8 is operated by a lifting stem l6 connected to the float II and extending upwardly through an enlarged opening I] in a guide bushing I8 mounted in an opening formed in the cover I3 of the cylindrical member I2. Thelifting stem israised through the usual link and arm mechanism I9 connected to an operating handle 20 on the outside of the tank.

When it is desired to flush the bowl I, the handle 20 is turned which, through the arm and link mechanism I9, raises the-lifting. stem I6 and moves the float II and valve 8 upwardly in the cylindrical member I2. This operation can readily be accomplished due to the fact that the float fits loosely in the surrounding cylindrical member and the water therein above the float is readily displaced. The upward movement of 'valve 8 uncovers the valve seat 5 andpermits the water to flow from the tank into the bowl.

As' soon as the float II and valve 8 are moved l to their raised positions, there is an equalization of pressure on each side of the valve 8 andas a result, the valve 8 is held in its open position due to the buoyancy of the float II. As soon as the Water in the tank 2 has fallen below the 7 neutral point of flotation of the float II, indi- 5 cated by the line A-A (Figs. 2, 3, and 4), the float and valve will naturally tend to lower and would do so if it were not for the column of water retained in the cylindrical member I2 underneath the float I I by atmospheric pressure. "10 Thus, it is apparent that the float and valve would be sustained in their raised position indefinitely if the effect of the atmospheric pressure sustaining the column of water in the cylindrical member were not neutralized. To over- 15 come the effect of atmospheric pressure, and to permit the valve to seat on the ring member 5, the cylindrical member I2 is so constructed that a small body of water is retained on the cover I3.

When the water recedes below the point of 20 buoyancy of the float (A-A) the gravitation effect of the valve 8 and float II tends to create a suction in the cylindrical member l2 which is manifested at the opening I1 and draws the water at a very slow rate from the reservoir I4. 26 The opening I I in the guide bushing I8 is of such size that the water is drawn therethrough very slowly so that the valve is sustained in substantially its extreme wide open position until the tank has been completely emptied. As soon 30 as the water in the reservoir I4 is exhausted, air enters through the opening I1 and due to its less frictional resistance, allows the valve 8 to drop rapidly to its seat 5. By controlling the size of the opening I1 in the guide bushing Hand 35? by forming other openings in the cylindrical member I2 to permit the water therein to flow back into the tank, it is apparent thata very definite time control of the open position of the valve can be secured. 40

It is readily apparent from the foregoing description that our improved flushing valve is readily adaptable for use with tank and bowl' combinations in which the bottom of the tank is lower than the top of the bowl. that in such a combination when the bowl becomes clogged for any reason, the water in the tank will flow into the bowl until the level of the water therein reaches the same level as the water in the bowl at which time the flow will, of 50 7 course, stop. However, since the supply valve is opened'as soon as the water in the tank starts to recede, it is apparent that if the valve is not' closed, the head of water in the tank will be raised sufficiently to cause the water in the bowl 55 to overflow.

With our improved flush valve the overflowing of the bowl is impossible because the valve'will close in a predetermined length of time after the water has receded below the line indicated 60' as A-A which represents the flotation depth of the float and is above the top of the bowl. Thus, the valve will close withinits time limit cycle and prevent the further delivery of water to the bowl. 435

ing a depressed cover closing the top thBI'GOLfj- It is obvious 45* it is to be understood that the float may be slidably mounted in a member of any desired shape and that the reservoir may be formed separately and secured on the encircling, member in any suitable manner. Also, other means besides the guiding bushing may be employed for guiding the valve and float and. that any suitable form of communication between the reservoir and the interior of the encircling member will suffice to permit the water to be drawn into the encircling member and regulate the time during which the valve is held open.

While we have described one embodiment of our invention, it is apparent that certain changes, modifications, omissions and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fixture of the character described comprising a closet bowl having a flush rim at the top thereof, a water storage tank supported on said bowl and having its bottom located in a plane below the flush rim, and a water outlet therein, connected to said flush rim, a valve in said tank adapted to normally seat over and close said outlet, a float connected to said valve, means for raising said valve and float, and means cooperating with said float for holding the valve in its raised position for a predetermined length of time after the water in the tank has dropped below the point of flotation of said float, said float being spaced above the valve and having its point of flotation located in a plane above the top of the bowl whereby the valve closes in a predetermined length of time after the water has dropped below the plane of buoyancy of the float and prevents the bowl from overflowing.

2. In combination with a water closet bowl having a flush rim at the top thereof, of a storage tank integral with said bowl and having its bottom located in a plane below the flush rim and having a water outlet therein connected to the flush rim, a valve adapted to seat over and close said outlet, a float secured to said valve and having its plane of flotation located in a plane substantially above the top of the bowl, a housing surrounding said float and having a water reservoir on the top thereof, and means extending through an aperture in said reservoir for lifting said valve and float, the water in said reservoir forming a seal to hold said float and valve in its raised position after the water in the tank drops below the flotation point of the valve, the aperture in said reservoir being of such size that the water seal is broken to permit the valve and float to drop before the water in the bowl reaches the upper edge thereof.

3. A fixture comprising a water closet bowl having a flush rim, a storage tank integral with said bowl and having the bottom thereof located in a plane substantially below the flush rim and having a water outlet therein connected to the flush rim, a valve in said tank adapted to seat over and close said outlet, means for raising said valve and means for holding said valve in its raised position, said means being adapted to release said valve within a predetermined interval of time after the water in the tank has dropped to a level slightly above the top of the bowl.

4. A mixture comprising a water closet bowl having a flush rim adjacent the top thereof, a

water storage tank integral with said bowl and 5 having its bottom located in a plane substantially below the flush rim, a passage in the bottom of said tank leading to the flush rim, a valve in said tank adapted to seat over and close said passage, a float carried by said valve, means for 10 raising said valve and float and means cooperating with the float for holding the valve in its raised position for a predetermined length of time after the water in the tank has dropped below the flotation point of the float. 15

5. A fixture comprising a water closet bowl having a flush rim adjacent the top thereof, a water storage tank integral with said bowl and having its bottom located in a plane below the flush rim, a passage leading from the bottom 20 of the storage tank to the flush rim, and means for controlling the passage of water from said tank to the flush rim including a valve, a float connected to said valve, means for raising said float and valve, an inverted chamber surround- 25 ing said float and having a reservoir thereon to provide a water seal on the top thereof, and means for breaking said water seal to permit said Valve to close Within a predetermined length of time after the water in the tank has dropped 30 below the flotation point of said float.

6. In combination with a water closet having a flush rim, of a water storage tank supported by said bowl and having its bottom disposed in a plane below the top of the bowl with the outlet 5 thereof connected to the flush rim, a valve adapted to seat over said outlet, a float connected to said valve and spaced thereabove, means for raising said valve and float, means for sustaining a column of water beneath said float to hold 40 said valve in its raised position, and means for releasing said column after the water in the tank has dropped below a predetermined level to permit said valve to reseat over said outlet.

'7. In combination with a water close-t having 45 a flush rim, of a water storage tank supported on said closet and having its bottom disposed in a plane below the top of the closet with the outlet thereof connected to the flush rim, a valve adapted to seat over said outlet, means for raising 50 said valve, means cooperating with said valve for utilizing atmospheric pressure to hold said valve in its raised position, and means for neutralizing the atmospheric pressure to release lsaid valve and permit it to reseat over the out- 8. A fixture comprising a water closet bowl having a flush rim adjacent the top thereof, a water storage tank integral with said bowl and having a passage in the bottom of the tank leading to the flush rim, a valve in said tank adapted to seat over and close said passage, a float carried by said valve, means for raising said valve and float, means for utilizing atmospheric pressure to sustain a column of water beneath said float and hold said valve in its raised position, and means for neutralizing said atmospheric pressure to release said column of water and permit the valve to seat over said passage.

VICTOR E. SCI-IMIEDEKNECHT.

ROBERT C. BOYD. 

